Co-ordinate input device

Abstract: A coordinate input device is provided to contribute to improvements in the mechanical mouse, opto-mechanical mouse or the like which are used to control cursor movements in the visual display unit of the computer system. The device comprises a position sensor (1) and a pressure sensor (3). The position sensor detects a two-dimensional position of the device, which is moved on a flat surface or the like by a person, so as to produce two-dimensional coordinates. The pressure sensor detects pressing force applied to the device by the person. Hence, the two-dimensional coordinates and the pressing force detected are used as parameters which control a cursor or a graphic image displayed on the screen of the visual display unit. The pressure sensor comprises an air-pressure sensor which detects a change of an air pressure caused by the pressing force applied to the device. In addition, the pressure sensor can be replaced by a grip sensor (4) which detects grip force applied to the device by the person.

Description: The present invention relates to a coordinate input device, and more particularly to a mouse whose movements on a flat surface are reflected by cursor movements on a visual display unit of a computer system. Conventionally, the coordinate input device such as the mouse is widely used for the computer system in the business use for the office work, engineering or the like, as well as in the personal use for playing the video game, drawing the picture or making the document containing tables. This device is useful in inputting two-dimensional coordinates, which designate a location to input a character on the screen or a location to start drawing a picture on the screen. Normally, the cursor displayed on the screen of the visual display unit is controlled in location or coordinates by that device. FIG. 2A is a sectional view showing a mechanical structure of the coordinate input device conventionally known. This is a so-called mechanical mouse in which a rubber-coated ball 22 is rolling on a flat surface 31 so that the amounts of movements in X and Y directions are detected. Those movements are reflected by the two-dimensional movements of the cursor on the screen. This type of mouse is frequently used in the personal computer system. In this device, a substrate 21 is fixedly located inside of a main body 20. Due to the provision of the main body 20, the substrate 21 and a ball-positioning member 24, the ball 22 is located at a certain position such that the ball 22 can rotate in any directions. The rotation of the ball 22 is converted into the location of the device on the flat surface 31. FIG. 2B shows a construction of a rotation detector 26. Herein, a slit disk 34 is attached to an axis 32 such that the slit disk 34 can rotate about the axis 32. A plurality of slits are formed in the peripheral portion of the slit disk 34 at equal intervals. A light-emitting element 36 is placed against a light-receiving element 38 with respect to the slit disk 34. The detection for the rotation of the ball 22 is activated when the operator moves the device in a certain direction on the flat surface 31 so that the ball 22 is correspondingly rotated. An edge portion of the slit disk 34 normally comes in contact with the ball 22; hence, the slit disk 34 should be rotated about the axis 32 by a certain amount of rotation in response to the rotation of the ball 22. The light emitted from the light-emitting element 36 passes through the slit to reach the light-receiving element 38. Since the slit disk 34 rotates responsive to the rotation of the ball 22, the light should intermittently reach the light-receiving element 38; in other words, the light-receiving element 38 receives a certain number of pulses of light in accordance with the rotation of the slit disk 34. The number of the pluses of light, received by the light-receiving element 38, is proportional to the amount of rotation of the ball 22 in a certain direction. The rotation detector 26, as shown in FIG. 2B, is provided for each of the X and Y directions; hence, it is possible to detect the amount of rotation of the ball 22 with respect to each of the X and Y directions. The pulses of light, received by the light-receiving element 38, are converted into electric signals by a movement detecting means 28; and then, those electric signals are outputted from the device. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a mechanical structure of another coordinate input device conventionally known. This is a so-called opto-mechanical mouse having an optical detection means 46 by which the movements thereof are detected by reading a pattern written on a pad 40 so as to compute the amounts of movements in X and Y directions by a data conversion means 48. Both of those devices described above are capable of obtaining coordinate information regarding the X and Y directions on the flat surface. In addition, those devices provide one or two buttons 29 and 49 as well. The buttons 29 and 49 are respectively connected with click detectors 30 and 50 which are fixedly located inside of the main body 20. The click detectors 30 and 50 detect ON/OFF states of the buttons 29 and 49 respectively, so that conversion means (not shown) converts the ON/OFF states detected into electric signals, which are outputted from the device. Further, the application program, executed by the computer, determines how the buttons function. For example, a task to select a specific function is assigned to one button, while a task to correct a specific item is assigned to another button. The coordinate input devices conventionally known are useful in providing sufficient information regarding a two-dimensional coordinates system. Recently, however, video-game softwares or multi-media systems require more complicated movements for the cursor or graphic image on the screen. In some cases, three-dimensional movements are required. In that case, the conventional coordinate input device cannot sufficiently satisfy those needs. When inputting a size or an intensity as a parameter regarding a certain object to be controlled on the screen, the conventional device inputs such parameter by detecting a timing to push the button or a duration in which the button is continuously pushed. Such indirect detection should be made by the conventional device because of the limited mechanism of the device. In that case, however, a change of the parameter on the screen which is caused by the conventional device does not precisely match with the operator's intention. In other words, in order to precisely match the change of the parameter with the operator's intention, the operator should be skilled in manipulating the device. Therefore, the conventional device is not designed for the normal people who are not necessarily skilled in manipulating the device. In addition, the conventional device cannot establish a good relationship between the screen image and the manipulation thereof. Further information relating to the prior art can be found in WO-A-88/08565 which discloses an apparatus, under the hand control of a user, for providing three dimensions of input to a computer processor while operating on an essentially planar surface. The apparatus comprises a first means for detecting the location or the movement of the apparatus in two perpendicular dimensions along the planar surface, second means for detecting and measuring an analog third dimension input to the apparatus under the control of the user while the apparatus is located along the planar surface, and means for receiving the three dimensions from the first and second means and for providing therefrom information, representative of the three dimensions to a port for input to the computer processor. The apparatus can take various forms such as a computer mouse, stylus for a bit pad, or light pen. Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 8, No. 257 (P-316), 24/11/1984 & JP-A-59/127143 discloses a manual computer controller to attain the input of data to a computer with just a single hand by providing five mouse keys in response to each finger. The middle, the third and the fifth keys function just as ON/OFF switches, and the outputs of these finger keys are supplied to a CPU through a parallel input unit, while the thumb and the first finger keys operate variable resistors for analog input to change the resistance value of the variable resistor. The variation of the resistance value is led to a parallel input unit via analog-digital converters. Thus an operator can perform the basic operations just with a single hand while looking at a display part. The basic operations of the operator include the shift of a cursor change of pages, scrolling, selection of menu, zooming-up/down, display of additional menus, etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a coordinate input device which is capable of inputting a variety of parameters with high performance. The present invention as defined in claims 1 and 3 provides improvements for the coordinate input devices such as the mechanical mouse, opto-mechanical mouse or the like which are used to control cursor movements in the visual display unit of the computer system. Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein the preferred embodiments of the present invention are clearly shown. In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a mechanical structure of a coordinate input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2A is a sectional view illustrating a mechanical structure of the mechanical mouse which is an example of the coordinate input device conventionally known; FIG. 2B is a perspective view illustrating a construction of a rotation detector which is equipped in the mouse shown in FIG. 2A; FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a mechanical structure of the opto-mechanical mouse which is another example of the coordinate input device conventionally known; FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a mechanical structure of a coordinate input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the coordinate input device; FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing an electric configuration of an air-pressure sensor which is provided in the coordinate input device; and FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of the coordinate input device shown in FIG. 4. Now, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a mechanical structure of a coordinate input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Herein, a numeral 1 denotes a position sensor which detects the movements thereof in the X and Y directions; and a numeral 2 denotes an air layer which is sealed by a pump 8. The pump 8 is made by specific material by which a part of the pump 8 or an overall portion of the pump 8 is made flexible. The air layer 2 is placed outside of an upper case 4 which is provided to protect an internal mechanism of the device. When an operator holds or grasps the upper case 4, a certain air pressure occurs in the air layer 2. A numeral 3 denotes an air-pressures sensor, a part of which is connected with a part of the air layer 2 sealed. Hence, the air-pressure sensor 3 can detect a change of the air pressure which occurs in the air layer 2. A numeral 5 denotes a lower case; a numeral 6 denotes a push button which is pushed by the operator; and a numeral 7 denotes a cable by which a variety of information created by the device is transmitted to an external device or the like. As the position sensor 1, it is possible to use a speed sensor which acts responsive to the inertia. In that case, the device can be moved in the space without being supported by a flat pad or the like. The position sensor 1 is embodied by a sensor whose output is proportional to the amount of movement or the speed in each of the X and Y directions in the two-dimensional coordinates system. Therefore, it is possible to use a mechanical-type sensor or an optical-type sensor as similar to one of the coordinate input devices shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3. In addition, the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 provides the air-pressure sensor 3, detecting the air pressure which responds to the operator's action to grasp the upper case 4. Therefore, the first embodiment is advantageous in that a variety of expressions can be realized on the screen. For example, when controlling a graphic image which represents an animated character in the video game to be played on the screen, the first embodiment can offer the three-dimensional movements as well as the two-dimensional movements on the screen. By manipulating the device according to the first embodiment, it is possible to control the animated character to stoop down, throw back its head or jump. In addition, it is possible to control the power to move the animated character; it is possible to control the loudness of the sounds; or it is possible to continuously change the moving speed of the animated character. In short, it is possible to control the movements of the animated character on the screen in real time. This offers a reality in playing the game. FIG. 4 is sectional view illustrating a mechanical structure of a coordinate input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Herein, the parts corresponding to those shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same numerals; hence, the description thereof will be omitted. As compared to the first embodiment, the second embodiment is characterized by that the sealed air layer 2 is located inside of the lower case 5. When the operator pushes down the upper case 4, the air layer 2 is compressed so that a change of the air pressure occurs, which is detected by the air-pressure sensor 3. FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of the coordinate input device shown in FIG. 4. According to the second embodiment, by merely operating and moving the coordinate input device on the flat pad, it is possible to obtain information representative of the parameter regarding a Z direction, which is a vertical direction against the flat pad, as well as the information regarding the two-dimensional parameters (i.e., the X- and Y-direction movements) of the device moved on the flat pad. In other words, the second embodiment can provide three-dimensional parameters. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the coordinate input device. Herein, the parts corresponding to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 are designated by the same numerals. The position sensor 1 consists of two sensors, i.e., an X-direction sensor 1A and a Y-direction sensor 1B. A numeral 9 denotes an AD converter which receives analog outputs of the X-direction sensor 1A, the Y-direction sensor 1B and the air-pressure sensor 3. Therefore, those analog outputs are converted into digital data by the AD converter 9, so that the digital data are transmitted through the cable 7. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing an electric configuration of the air-pressure sensor 3. The air-pressure sensor 3 is configured by a pressure-sensitive element 3A, an operational amplifier 3B and resistors R1-R4. The pressure-sensitive element 3A produces an analog voltage which is proportional to a pressure difference between the internal pressure of the air layer 2 and the atmospheric pressure, wherein the internal pressure of the air layer 2 is changed when the operator grasps the upper case 4 shown in FIG. 3. The operational amplifier 3B and the resistors R1-R4 are assembled together to form a differential amplifier. Hence, the analog voltage, which is produced responsive to the pressure difference described above, is amplified by the amplifier so as to produce a dc voltage which is outputted from the air-pressure sensor 3.

Claims: A coordinate input device comprising: position detecting means (1) for detecting a two-dimensional position of the coordinate input device so as to produce two-dimensional coordinates; and pressing-force detecting means (3) for detecting pressing force applied thereto by a person; whereby the two-dimensional coordinates and the pressure detected are used as parameters which control a cursor or a graphic image displayed on a screen of a visual display unit; characterized in that said coordinate input device comprises an upper casing (4) that protects an internal mechanism of said device; and said pressing-force detecting means (3) comprises: an air pressure sensor (3) inside said upper casing (4) that senses a change of air pressure; and a pump (8) disposed on top of the upper casing (4), the pump (8) sealing an air layer (2) within said pump (8) that is connected to said air pressure sensor (3) in a sealed manner such that the air pressure sensor (3) transmits an electrical signal in response to the change of air pressure caused by compression of said air layer (2). A coordinate input device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper casing (4) and said pump (8) have substantially hemispherically curved shapes. A coordinate input device comprising: position detecting means (1) for detecting a two-dimensional position of the coordinate input device so as to produce two-dimensional coordinates; and pressing-force detecting means (3) for detecting pressing force applied thereto by a person; whereby the two-dimensional coordinates and the pressure detected are used as parameters which control a cursor or a graphic image displayed on a screen of a visual display unit; characterized in that said coordinate input device comprises an upper casing (4) and a lower casing (5); and said pressing-force detecting means (3) comprises: an air pressure sensor (3) that senses a change of air pressure; and a pump (8) located within the lower casing (5), the pump (4) sealing an air layer (2) within said pump (8) that is connected to said air pressure sensor (3) in a sealed manner such that the air pressure sensor (3) transmits an electrical signal in response to the change of air pressure caused by a downward force applied to the upper casing (4). A coordinate input device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the upper casing (4) has a substantially hemispherically curved shape and the lower casing (5) has a substantially rectangular shape. A coordinate input device in accordance with any of claims 1-4, further comprising: a tube connecting said air layer (2) sealed within said pump (8) and the air pressure sensor (3). A coordinate input device in accordance with any of claims 1-5, further comprising: a push button (6) for transmitting a second electrical signal in response to pushing of the push button (6).

Inventors: BABA MICHIRU, BABA, MICHIRU
Applicants: YAMAHA CORP, YAMAHA CORPORATION
Application year: 1994
Main classification: G06K11
IPC codes: G06F3